Vending machine



March 31, 1964 D. c. DIEW ETAL VENDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed001;. 16, 1961 ATTORNEYS.

March 31, 1964 Q E ETAL 3,127,055

VENDING MACHINE Filed 001;. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DONALD C. DEW CARLSTUEWE INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent '0 3,127,055 VENDING MACHTNE Donald C. Dew and CarlStuewe, Whittier, Calif., assignors, by assignment and court order, toStewart McDonald Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. N 145,071 19 Claims. (Cl.2211-82) This invention relates to a vending machine, and in particularto a vending machine which dispenses packages which are made ofdimensionally unstable material, such as paper or foil.

Prior art vending machines having freely rotatable drum-type magazineswith radially disposed merchandise compartments have had thedisadvantage that paper or foil packages dispensed therefrom arefrequently caught between the edge of the magazine and a retaining ringsurrounding it and consequently have damaged the packages or machines.

It is the general object of this invention to eliminate thisdisadvantage by mounting a drum-type magazine on a cylindricalsupporting ring which serves as a bearing surface for the magazine andalso retains the merchandise packages within the magazine. Since themagazine bears directly against the cylindrical supporting ring, the gapgenerally found in prior art machines between the magazine and retainingring is eliminated. Thus, there is a lesser chance of the ends of paperor foil packages in the magazine to become damaged themselves or damagethe machine by becoming wedged between the outer end of the magazine andthe retaining ring.

Another object of the invention is to position the merchandisecompartments of a drum-type magazine at an angle to the radius of themagazine with the outer ends of the compartments leading their innerends in the direction of rotation thereof. In such an arrangement apackage in a merchandise compartment'also will be positioned with itsouter end leading its inner end in the direction of rotation of themagazine such as will render it nearly impossible for the outer end ofthe package to become wedged between the outer edge of the compartmentand a retaining ring.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple andeffective operating mechanism including a coin control device which,together with the mechanism, prevents tampering of the vending machineby unauthorized persons.

The above and other objects and advantages will more fully appear fromthe following description in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a vending machine incorporating thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1, showingdetails of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 2, showing in particularthe operating mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the merchandise magazine and itssupporting means.

Referring to FIG. 1 .of the drawings, a cabinet '10 is shown having aplurality of operator buttons 14 for actuating separate merchandisemagazines and dispensing packages therefrom. A door 16 having a key lock17 is mounted by hinges 18 on the housing for gaining access to theinterior of the housing to refill empty merchandise magazines. A vendingstation '12 is disposed in front of the machine through which packagesare released to a customer.

The details of the vending machine are shown more clearly in FIG. 2where there is shown a front supporting bracket 20 and a rear supportingbracket 22, each fixed to the cabinet by suitable fastening means suchas screws,

ice

rivets, spot welding, or the like. The brackets have cylindrical tracksections 24- and 26 which are adapted to rotatably support a drum-typegenerally designated at 23. The cylindrical track sections 24 and 26also serve to retain packages within the magazine.

The magazine 23 has an inner cylindrical drum 3t? and a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced walls or dividers 32 extending outwardly fromthe periphery of the drum defining between each set of walls amerchandise compartment. It will be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4- that thewalls 32 of the compartments are disposed at an acute angle to theradius of the the drum with the outer ends of the Walls leading theirinner ends in the direction of rotation of the drum, in this case beingclockwise. It is because of this positioning of the compartments thatmerchandise packages of paper or toll have their outer ends leadingtheir inner ends in the direction of rotation of the drum which tends toprevent the outer ends from slipping between the outer edges of thewalls 32 and the retaining or track sections 24 and 26. This slippage isfurther prevented by having the outer edges of the walls 32 contactingthe track sections 24 and 25 in sliding relationship.

Drum 30 has an annular ring member 34 on one end thereof for preventingpackages in the compartments from falling out in one direction. Thevending machine has mounted therein a plurality of such drums positionedadjacent one another in a concentric relationship, the annular ring 34on one end of each drum serving to prevent packages from falling fromthe end of each adjacent drum. It will be noted that within the seriesof concentric drums 3t there is a convenient cylindrical space forinstalling heating, refrigeration or storage units which could besupported from each end of the cabinet 16.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a drum 3t) identical in all respects to theother drums but is mounted at the righthand end of the vending machine,looking at FIG. 1. In this case there is no adjacent drum having anannular ring for retaining packages within its merchandise compartments.Therefore, it is necessary that track sections 24 and 26 associated withthis drum have an annular ring member 36 fixed thereto for preventingpackages from falling out of the right-hand side of the drum.

The two cylindrical track sections 24- and 26 are spaced apart near thelower portion of drum 23 defining a slot or opening 38 therebetween forreleasing packages by gravity from successive merchandise compartmentsin the drum to the vending station 12.

The operating mechanism for the vending machine is generally designatedby the numeral 46) in the drawing. This mechanism comprises a generallyL-shaped element 42 pivotally mounted on the housing by pin 44. The legs42 and 43 of the L-shaped element are also pivotally connected by pin46. The longer leg 42 has fixed there to the operator button 14 whichextends through an opening 43 in the cabinet it). The shorter leg .8constitutes a thrust arm which normally rests on the top portion 60 ofone of the walls 63 of a merchandise compartment and has at its end aram face 5% which engages the trailing side 62 of the following walls65. A latch flange or stop member 52 is connected to the end of thethrust arm which hooks around the leading side 64 of the wall 67 of anadvanced compartment, the flange and ram face cooperating with the endsof the compartment walls 65 and 67 to hold the drum from rotation ineither direction. Therefore, the magazine 23 cannot be rotated by oneinserting his hand through the vending station 12.

A coil spring is shown at 54 having one of its ends fixed to the housingand its other end attached to the thrust arm 48 biasing the thrust armand latch flange 52 toward the drum. A coin-control mechanism whichforms no part of this invention has a segmental shaped cam 56 mounted ona shaft 58. When an appropriate coin is inserted in the coin-controlmechanism the segmental shaped cam 56 is rotated from the position shownin FIG. 2, clockwise, to the position shown in FIG. 3. When the cam isin the latter position one may push against operator button 14 movingthe L-shaped element 42 towards the drum magazine 23. It wiil be seenfrom the drawing that when the operator button 14- is actuated the camface 59 which engages wall 65 at 62 forces the drum magazine 2%; torotate in a clockwise direction. At the same instant the top portion 68of wall 63 will tend to lift the thrust arm 48 away from the ends of thecompartment walls and latch flange 52 will be lifted out of engagementwith the upper portion of compartment wall 67 as shown in FIG. 3. Oncethe magazine has been rotated a sufficient distance to release a packageto the vending station 12, the spring 5- will pull the thrust arm 48back to the position shown in FIG. 2, the latch flange 52 will engagethe next compartment wall 69, and segmental shaped cam 56 will return toits normal position.

From the foregoing it is seen that we have provided an actuatingmechanism which is simple but efficient and will prevent unauthorizedpersons from rotating the drum magazine without inserting a coin in thevending machine.

Also, the design of the compartment walls, together with the combinedsupporting and retaining track sections surrounding the drum-typemagazine will prevent dimensionally unstable packages from slippingbetween the ends of the compartments and the track sections, therebysaving the packages from damage and the vending machine from beingjammed.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by thefollowing claims.

We claim:

1. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical rotary drum including aplurality of circumferentially spaced dividers extending outwardly fromthe periphery of said drum, the space between each of said dividersconstituting a merchandise compartment, said dividers being at an acuteangle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of said dividersleading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum,article-retaining means surrounding part of said drum and slidablysupporting the drum on outer edges of its dividers, said retaining meanshaving a cut-out portion near the lower portion thereof for registrysuccessively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means forrotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments intoregistry with said cut-out portion for dispensing merchandise from saidcompartments.

2. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical rotary drum including aplurality of circumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from theperiphery of said drum, the space between each pair of adjacent wallsconstituting a merchandise compartment, means surrounding part of saiddrum rotatably supporting said drum, the outer edges of said wallshaving sliding contact with said means, a vending station near the lowerportion of said drum for registry successively with each of saidmerchandise compartments, and means for rotating said drum to bringsuccessive merchandise compartments into registry with said vendingstation for dispens ing merchandise from said compartments.

3. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery ofsaid drum, the space between each pair of adjacent walls constituting amerchandise compartment, means surrounding part of said drum rotatablysupporting said drum, said means having a cut-out portion near the lowerportion thereof for registry successively with each of said merchandisecomd partments, and means for rotating said drum to bring successivemerchandise compartments into registry with said cut-out portion fordispensing merchandise from said compartments.

4. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery ofsaid drum, the space between each pair of adjacent walls constituting amerchandise compartment, means including at least two circumferentiallyspaced track sections rotatably supporting said drum, said two spacedtrack sections defining an opening therebetween near the lower portionof said drum and for registry successively with each of said merchandisecompartments, and means engageable with the outer edges of the walls forrotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments intoregistry with said opening for dispensing merchandise from saidcompartments.

5. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery ofsaid drum, the space between each of said walls constituting amerchandise compartment, said walls being at an acute angle to theradius of said drum with the outer ends of said walls leading theirinner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum, means surroundingpart of said drum rotatably supporting said drum, said means having acut-out portion near the lower portion thereof for registry successivelywith each of said merchandise compartments, and means engageable withthe outer edges of the walls for rotating said drum to bring successivemerchandise compartments into registry with said cut-out portion fordispensing merchandise from said compartments.

6. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery ofsaid drum, the space between each pair of adjacent Walls constituting amerchandise compartment, said walls being at an acute angle to theradius of said drum with the outer ends of said walls leading theirinner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum, means including atleast two circumferentially spaced track sections rotatably supportingsaid drum, said two spaced track sections defining an openingtherebetween near the lower portion of said drum for registrysuccessively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means forrotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments intoregistry with said opening for dispensing merchandise from saidcompartments.

7. A vending machine as set forth in claim 6 further including meansadjacent each end of said drum for confining merchandise within each ofsaid merchandise compartments.

8. A vending machine comprising a plurality of cylindrical drums, anannular ring member on one end of each of said drums and extendingradially outwardly therefrom, a plurality of circumferentially spacedwalls extending outwardly from the periphery of each of said drums,means surrounding parts of said drums rotatably supporting said drums ina concentric relationship, the space between each pair adjacent walls oneach of said drums and between said annular ring members on adjacentdrums constituting a merchandise compartment, said means having anopening near the lower portion thereof for registry successively witheach of said merchandise compartments on each of said drums, and meansengageable with the outer ends of walls on each drum for rotating eachof said drums independently of the other drums to bring successivecompartments into registry with said opening for dispensing merchandisefrom said compartments.

9. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, an annular ringmember on one end of said drum and extending radially outwardlytherefrom, a plurality of circumferentially spaced walls extendingoutwardly from the periphery of said drum, a second annular ring memheradjacent the other endof said drum, means including twocircumferentially spaced track sectionson said second annular ringrotatably supporting said drum, the space between each pair of adjacentwalls and said annular rings constituting a merchandise compartment,said two track sections being spaced apart near the lower portion ofsaid drum and defining an opening therebetween for registry successivelywith each of said merchandise compartments, and means engageable withthe 'outer edges of the walls for rotating-said drum to bring successivemerchandise compartments irito registry with said opening for dispensingmerchandise from said compartments.

10. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, an annular ringmember on one end of said drum and extending radially outwardlytherefrom, a plurality of circumferentially spaced Walls extendingoutwardly from the periphery of said drum, said walls being at an acuteangle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of said wallsleading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum, asecond annular ring member adjacent the other end of said drum, meansincluding two circumferentially spaced track sections on said secondannular ring rotatably supporting said drum, the space between each ofsaid walls and said annular rings constituting a merchandisecompartment, said two track sections being spaced apart near the lowerportion of said drum and defining an opening therebetween for registrysuccessively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means forrotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments intoregistry with said opening for dispensing merchandise from saidcompartments.

11. A vending machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said two tracksections are additionally spaced apart near the upper portion of saiddrum whereby compartments in the upper portion of said drum areaccessible for replenishing merchandise therein.

12. In a vending machine of the type having a freely rotatablecylindrical drum with a plurality of merchandise compartments uniformlypositioned about the periphery thereof, each of said compartments beingat an acute angle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of saidcompartments leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation ofsaid drum, a cabinet housing said drum and providing a vending stationnear the lower portion of said drum to receive merchandise fromsuccessive compartments as the latter are successively brought intoregistry with said station during operation of said machine; anoperating mechanism comprising a generally L-shaped element hinged atits upper end to said cabinet and movable in the same plane as saidcompartments, means hingedly connecting the legs of said L-shapedelements, a ram face adjacent the end of the short leg of said L-shapedelement normally engaging one side of one of said compartments, and adownwardly extending latch flange at the end of said short leg normallyengaging the other side of another of said compartments, said latchflange being adapted to be lifted out of engagement with said other sidewhen force is exerted against the long leg of said L-shaped element inthe direction of rotation of said drum, and means biasing said short legtoward said drum whereby said ram face and latch flange return to theirrespective normally engaging positions after said drum has been rotateda distance necessary to bring a successive compartment into registrywith said vending station.

13. In a vending machine of the type having a freely rotatablecylindrical drum with a plurality of merchandise compartments uniformlypositioned about the periphery thereof, each of said compartments beingat an acute angle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of saidcompartments leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation ofsaid drum, a cabinet housing said drum and providing a vending stationnear the lower portion of said drum to receive merchandise fromsuccessive oompartments as the latter are successively brought intoregistry with said station during operation of said machine;

an operating mechanism comprising a generally L-shaped element hinged atits upper end to said cabinet and movable in the same plane as saidcompartments, means hingedly connecting the legs of said L-shapedelement, a ram face adjacent the end of the short leg of said L- shapedelement normally engaging one side of one of said compartments, and adownwardly extending latch flange at the end of said short leg normallyengaging the other side of an advanced compartment, said short legnormally resting upon the outer edge of a succeeding compartment,whereby the exertion of force against the long leg of said L-shapedelement in the direction of rotation of said drum simultaneously rotatessaid drum and causes the outer edge of said succeeding compartment tolift said short leg and consequently, said latch flange out ofengagement with said advanced compartment, and means biasing said shortleg toward said drum whereby said ram face and said latch flange returnto their respective normally engaging positions after said drum has beenrotated a distance necessary to bring a successive compartment intoregistry with said vending machine.

14. A vending machine comprising a rotary drum having circumferentiallyspaced walls dividing the exterior of the drum into compartments, spacedarcuate supports slidingly engaging and supporting the drum by the outeredges of lowermost walls, the space between the supports constituting anoutlet from the compartments adapted to be brought into registrationtherewith consecutively as the drum rotates, and means for rotating thedrum with a step by step movement comprising a swingable thrust memberhaving a thrust portion engageable with the wall adjacent its outeredge, the thrust member being biased against the outer edge of anadjacent wall, and means for advancing and retracting the thrust member.

15. A vending machine comprising a rotary drum having circumferentiallyspaced walls dividing the exterior of the drum into compartments, spacedarcuate supports slidingly engaging and supporting the drum by the outeredges of lowermost walls, the space between the supports constituting anoutlet from the compartments adapted to be brought into registrationtherewith consecutively as the drum rotates, means for rotating the drumwith a step by step movement comprising a swingable thrust member havinga thrust portion engageable with the wall adjacent its outer edge, thethrust member being biased against the outer edge of an adjacent wall,and means for advancing and retracing the thrust member, said thrustmember having an arresting portion rigid therewith engageable with anouter edge of a wall when the thrust member is in retracted position tohold the drum against rotation but disengageable therewith when thethrust member is advanced in the course of rotating the drum.

16. The vending machine as set forth in claim 14 further including a cammechanism associated with said thrust member, said mechanism normalyblocking movement of the thrust member, said cam mechanism being movableout of the path of the thrust member upon deposit of a predeterminedcoinage thereby permitting the thrust member to be pushed against thewall of a compartment to rotate said drum.

17. A vending machine comprising a housing, a plurality of drums in thehousing, each drum having circumferentially spaced walls dividing theexterior of the drum into compartments, means on the housing, slidinglysupporting the outer edges of walls of each drum for rotation of eachdrum about a horizontal axis and providing a discharge opening withwhich the compartments on each drum may be consecutively brought intoregistration to discharge the contents of a compartment therethrough,and means for rotating each drum with a step by step motionindependently of other drums to consecutively bring its compartmentsinto registration with its discharge opening.

18. A vending machine comprising a housing, a plurality of drums inthehousing, each drum having circumferentially spaced walls dividing theexterior of the drum -into compartments, means on the housing disposedbeneath each drum for slidably supporting each drum for rotation about ahorizontal axis, said means providing a discharge opening for each drumthrough which the contents of the compartments can be discharged whenthe compartments are brought into registration therewith, and means forselectively rotating each drum independently of the other drums with astep by step motion.

19. A vending machine comprising a housing, a plurality of drums in thehousing rotatable about concentric horizontal axes, each drum havingcircumferentially spaced Walls and one annular Wall connecting thespaced Walls thus dividing the exterior of the drum into compartments,means on the housing slidably supporting the 15 2,792,147

bottom of each drum for rotation independently of other drums andproviding a discharge opening for each drum into registration with whichits compartments may be consecutively brought, and means on the housingengageable with the outer edges of the circumferentially spaced walls ofeach drum for rotating each drum independently of other drums with astep by step motion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS398,279 Powell Feb. 19, 1889 496,636 Hunter Feb. 23, 1892 2,582,766Burggrabe Jan. 15, 1952 Stewart May 14, 1957

